Optimization of Underground Water Pumping

Nowadays, it is necessary to develop methodologies, tools, and actions that try to optimize the use of the energy resources. One of the main problems found was the improper dimensioning of the pumping for undergroundwater extractions that supply water to reservoirs. In this paper, a new methodology to obtain the minimum total cost (investment+operation costs) by optimizing the characteristic and efficiency curves, together with the pumping pipe diameter, was developed. This methodology was based on the theoretical relations between the characteristic and efficiency curves and it considered different variables such as: hydrologic, topographic, hydraulic, and economic variables. In addition, software implemented in MATLAB environment was developed to facilitate the transference of this methodology to engineers and managers of irrigable areas. The results show that the steepness of the characteristic curve is mainly associated with the water table level variation throughout the year, and the pumping pipe diameter is mainly associated with the water demand (volume). In addition, the operation point with the maximum efficiency should correspond with the month of highest demand.